Vibratory feeder



Nov. 2, 1937, Y J. A. FLINT ET AL VIBRATORY FEEDER Filed April 19, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 /NVEN7'ORS. James A. F7077: FIND fiff/iur fi o/7,

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VIBRATORY FEEDER Filed April 19, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ArfhurD/vfo/T, I BY,

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ATT'X Nov. 2, 1937. I J. A. FLINT ET AL 2,098,034

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Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES 2,098,034 vmns'romz FEEDER James A. Flint and Arthur D. Holt, Columbus,

Ohio, asslgnors to The Traylor Vibrator Company, a corporation of Colorado Application April 19, 1935, Serial No. 17,244

24 Claims. (01. 198-56) An object of the invention is to provide a feeding mechanism, particularly of the vibratory type, which will feed material, such as granular material, from a hopper to any desired point of delivery at a substantially constant rate.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary hopper in combination with a stationary hopper and a vibratory feeder, which auxiliary hopper is subjected to vibrations whereby there will be a constant supply of material to be fed by the conveyor.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the device of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear end elevational view of the device of our invention with certain parts omitted;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational sectional view of the device of Fig. 1 taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fi 1; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Vibratory feeders have been employed to feed granular material, and similar materials which are found in small particles, from a stationary source, such as a hopper, to a container or a rece'ptacle. It has been discovered ,that in practice there is often a tendency for the'material to become clogged in the bottom of the hopper and to form an arch therein whereby there would be a non-uniform feeding of the material from the hopper to the conveyor. As a consequence, the conveyor was not fed-with material from the hopper and improper operation of the device resuited. This deficiency has been overcome by our invention by providing an auxiliary hopper which in effect forms the bottom portion of the discharge hopper, and subjecting this auxiliary hopper to vibrations which eliminate the tendency 5 for the material to arch or cake.

Referring particularly to Fig. l of the drawings, there is seen at A an independently supported stationary hopper or any similar container adapted to hold material, such as granular mate- 50 rial or material made up of small particles, ex-

amples of which are chemical salts, grain (such as rice and wheat), crushed stone, coal and numerous other materials.

- Adjacent the bottom of the hopper A, there is 55 provided an auxiliary hopper B which may be considered as constituting a part of said stationary hopper A. The auxiliary hopper B feeds material into the pan of a vibratory conveyor C, which is generally of the type disclosed in the application of James A. Flint, Serial No. 727,770, for Method of and apparatus for transferring material, filed May 26, 1934.

The vibratory conveyor 0 comprises a deck or pan I0 having a bottom wall I I and a pair of upright side walls 12 (Fig. 4). The general con- 10 figuration of pan I0 adjacent its discharge end is best seen in Fig. 4, but it is to be understood that any desired configuration may be employed. Adjacent its feed end, the pan ID has the side walls 12 extending upwardly and outwardly as 15 seen at l2 in Fig. 5, whereby the material receiving portion, or feed end, of said pan has an increased depth.

Said pan IB is preferably mounted upon metal leaf spring cantilevers 13 which make an acute 20 angle with the plane formed by the bottom H of saidpan. Said cantilevers I3 are rigidly attached to downwardly projecting metal bosses M on the metal pan ID by any desired attaching means, such as screws 15. Adjacent their bot- 25 toms, the cantilevers l3 are rigidly attached to a heavy metal base l6 by appropriate screws ll co-operating with metal bosses i8 on said base. The base I6 is preferably mounted upon legs l9 made of flexible material, such as rubber. 3

As was described in detail in the above mentioned application of James A. Flint, the base l6 has 'a weight which is preferably at least twice the weight of the pan i0 and any parts rigidly attached to said pan. The cantilevers l3 are 35 preferably of spring steel whereby, upon their being deflected, energy is stored therein which may be employed to vibrate the pan I0.

Adjacent its rear end, the pan i0 is provided with a bracket 2|! to which is rigidly attached an armature 2|, preferably made of laminated transformer steel. Adjacent the rear end of the base l6, there is provided an upstanding bracket 22 which carries at its top a magnetic core 23 upon which is wound a field coil 24. A hood 25 is carried by the bracket 20 and extends over the field coil 24, thereby protecting said field coil. Said field coil 24 has its terminals connected to a plug 26 which is adapted to be p"gged into the standard wall plug receptacle.

As was described in considerable detail in the above application of James A. Flint, the deck Ill, together with the cantilevers l3, are so constructed that it has a natural period of vibration which is approximately, but not exactly,

equal to the frequency at which it is to be oscillated. That is, the pan l0 and the cantilevers should provide a natural period slightly different from the period at which it is to be vibrated. The armature 2|, the field coil' 24 and the magnetic core 23 provide an alternating current vibrator or vibratory motor which is adapted, when energized from a source of alternating current, 'such as a source of-commercial alternating current of 60 cycles, to impart periodic vibrations to the deck Ill. The frequency of vibration of said deck ill will be twice the frequency of the energizing source for the motor 21. For example, if a 60-cycle source is employed, the frequency of the deck ID will be 7,200 cycles per minute. This is due to the fact that the armature 2| will be attracted twice during each cycle of the electric current and, when the current goes through zero in its cycle of operation, it will 'be effective to release said armature 2 l and allow the energy stored up in the cantilevers l3 to vibrate said deck Ill.

The construction of the auxiliary hopper B is best seen in Figs. 1 and 6, and comprises a substantially vertical front wall 28, sloping side walls 29 and sloping rear wall '30. The side walls 29- and the rear wall 30 provide a bottom opening 3| and said walls 29 and front walls 28 provide a front opening 32. As is illustrated in Figs. 1, 3,5 and 6 of the drawings, the side walls 29 and the rear wall 30 terminate a short distance above the bottom wall ll of the pan III. This provides for complete freedom of movement of said pan ID with respect to the auxiliary hopper B. Adjacent the front opening 32, there is'- provided avariable gate comprising a plate 33 having an I outwardly projecting lift or handle portion 34.

A strap 35- extends across the front, of the auxiliary hopper B between the two side walls 29 and the plate 33 is vertically slidable between B by the strap 40 and the screws 4i.

said strap 35 and the front wall 28. Apair of wing screws 36 is provided for adjustably retaining the plate 33 in any selected position. Itis evident that theplate 33 may be .vertically adjusted to determine the size of the front opening 32 and the wing screws 36 clamp this plate 33 in any selected position.

The auxiliary hopper B is connected to the side walls I2 by a flexible strip 31 which'may be made of rubber or canvas. This strip is attached to the side walls I2, as by a strap 38 and screws 39, and is similarly attached to the auxiliary chute It is thus evident that the auxiliary hopper B is, entirely free for movement with respect to the pan l9 though there is a flexible connection-therebetween which will prevent the flowing out of any small particles of material which is being fed.

Adjacent its top, the auxiliary hopper B is flexibly attached to the bottom of the hopper A by a flexible strip 42 which goes completely around the circumference of the auxiliary hopper A and is rigidly attached to a top flange thereof by an appropriate strap 43 and bolts 44. The free edge of said strip 42 makes a frictional engagement with the tapering end 45 of the stationary hopper A. Said flexible strip 42 is preferably made of canvas or rubber and thus provides a dust-proof flexible connection between the stationary hopper A and the auxiliary hopper B.

Adjacent the sides of auxiliary hopper B, there is provided a pair of brackets 46 (Fig. 6) which are rigidly attached to the side walls 29 thereof, as by welding. Extending upwardly from the base It isa bracket 41 which is substantially U-shaped, as seen in Fig. 6, and which is rearwardly bent from its bottom portion, as seenin Fig. l.v The bracket 41 is rigidly attached at its bottom to the base I6, as by bolts 48, and the free ends of said bracket-41 are rigidly attached to the brackets 46, as by bolts49.

From the above construction, particularly that the base It is much heavier than the deck Ill and is preferably at least twice as heavy. Asa consequence, most of the energy of the motor 21 will be employed to vibrate the pan l0 but, as the base l6 does not have an infinite weight, it is inevitable that some of the energy will manifest itself by vibration of said. base Hi. In prior devices, no use was made of these vibrations in the base it but in our invention they have been put to a useful purpose and through the intermediary of the bracket 4'! are employed to impart vibrations to the auxiliary hopper B. v

In the operation of our device, the hopper A will be filled-with material, which material will flow into the auxiliary hopper B. Due to the large unobstructed opening in the hopper A, there will be no appreciable tendency for the material to cake or arch therein. Said material will therefore also fill the auxiliary hopper B. When the electric motor 21 is energized from a source of alternating current, the pan It] will be vibrated and dueto the angular position of the cantilevers |3;'wi1l 'eilect a conveying action on any material resting on the bottom I I thereof. The motor 21, in operating, not only vibrates the pan l0 but also slightly vibrates the base l6. -Theseslight vibrations of the base I 6 are then'imparted to the auxiliary hopper B through the intermediary of the bracket 41. This vibra tion of the auxiliary hopper B will prevent any tendency for the material to cake or arch therein and will insure a continuous presence of material on the pan l0 adjacent the bottom opening 3| of said auxiliary hopper B.

The rate of flow of the material along the pan [0 may be adjusted by controlling the plate 33, forming a, gate on the auxiliary hopper and/or by controlling the amplitude of vibration of the pan l0. Said amplitude of vibration of the pan ill may be controlled by inserting a manually adjustable resistor in series with the'field coil 24. Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, and we wish therefore not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed. I

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of our invention, what we desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a vibratory feeder, the combination with a vibratory conveyor deck, of a base, spring means attaching said deck and base whereby said deck will have a conveying action when vibrated, a vibratory motor having a portion attached to said base and another portion attached to said deck, a hopper adapted to feed material to said deck, and means connecting said hopper and. said base whereby vibrations in said base will be imparted to said hopper.

2. In a vibratory feeder, the combination with a vibratory conveyor deck, of a relatively heavy mass forming a base, leaf springs connecting said base and deck and making an acute angle with the deck bottom, a motor for vibrating said deck and said base, means for feeding material to said deck, and means attaching said base to said'feeding means whereby vibrations in said base will be imparted thereto.

3. In a vibratory feeder, the combination with a vibratory conveyor adapted to convey material without the aid of gravity and having a deck and a base, of a hopper for feeding material thereto, means for vibrating both said deck and said base, and means for attaching said base and said hopper whereby vibrations imparted to said base will be transferred to said hopper.

. 4. In a vibratory feeder, the combination with a vibratory conveyor adapted to convey material without the aid of gravity and hav ng a deck and a base, of means for feeding material thereto, means for vibrating both said deck and said base, and means for attaching said base and said feeding means whereby vibrations imparted to said base will be transferred to said first mentioned means.

5. In a vibratory feeder, the combination-with a vibratory conveyor deck, of. a base, leaf spring means connecting said base and deck and making an acute anglewith the deck bottom, a hopper having a discharge opening directed toward said deck, flexible means for attaching said hopper and deck, means for attaching said base to said hopper whereby vibrations in the latter will be transferred to the former, and a motor comprising an alternating current .vibrator for vibrating said deck and said base. 1

6. In a vibratdry feeder, the combination with a vibratory conveyor deck, of a base, leaf spring means connecting said base and deck and making an acute angle with the deck bottom, a hopper having a discharge opening directed toward said deck, flexible means for attaching said hopperand deck, means for attaching said base to said hopper whereby vibrations in the latter will be transferred to the former. and a motor for vibrating said deck and said base.

'7. In a vibratory feeder, the combination with a vibratory feeder adapted to feed material without the aid of gravity and including a deck, of

a relatively heavy base, leaf spring means conmeeting said base and deck, a hopper having a discharge end extending into said deck having an open bottom and a front opening of variable size, flexible means attaching said hopper and deck, means for attaching said base to said hopper whereby vibrations in thelatter will be transferred to the former, and a motor for vibrating said deck and base.

8. In a vibratory feeder, the combination with a vibratory feeder adapted to feed material without the aid of gravity and including a. deck, of a relatively heavy base, leaf spring means connecting said base and deck, a hopper having a discharge end extending into said deck having an open bottom and a front opening, flexible means attaching said hopper and deck, means for attaching said base to said hopper whereby vibrations in the latter will be transferred to the former, and a motor for vibrating said deck and base.

9. In a vibratory feeder, the combination with a main hopper, of an auxiliary hopper positioned to be fed by said main hopper, flexible means connecting said hoppers to make a continuous wall therebetween, a conveyor of the vibratory type capable of conveying material without the from said auxiliary hopper, 'means flexibly attaching said auxiliary hopper and said deck,

means connecting said base and said auxiliary hopper whereby vibrations in the former will be imparted to the latter, and a vibratory motor for vibrating said deck and said base.

10. In a vibratory feeder, the combination with a main hopper, of an auxiliary hopper positioned to be fed by said main hopper, flexible means connecting said hoppers to make a continuous wall therebetween, a conveyor of the vibratory type capable of conveying material without the aid of gravity, comprising a deck and a base, said deck being positioned to receive material from said auxiliary hopper, means connecting said base and said auxiliary hopper whereby vibrations in the former will be imparted to the latter, and a vibratory motor for vibrating said deck and said base.

11. In a vibratory feeder, the combination with a main hopper, of an auxiliary hopper positioned to be fed by said main hopper, flexible means connecting said hoppers to make a continuous wall therebetween, a conveyor of the vibratory type capable of conveying material without the aid of gravity, comprising a deck and a base, said deck being positioned to receive I on said baseto cause vibration of said base to be imparted to said directing means.

13. In a vibratory feeder, the combination with a substantially horizontal vibratory conveyor deck, of a base, spring means attaching said deck and base whereby said deckwill have a conveying action when vibrated, a hopper positioned to feed material to said deck, means supporting said hopper independently of said deck and pulsating electromagnetic means connected to both said hopper and said deck to cause their vibration at a frequency not less than 3,000 cycles per minute thereby to insure a continuous feeding of material from said hopper to said deck and from said deck.

14. In a vibratory feeder, the combination with a. substantially horizontal vibratory conveyor deck, of a base, spring means attaching said deck and base whereby said deck will have a conveying action when vibrated, a hopper positioned above said deck and having a restricted discharge outlet directing material to said deck; means supporting said hopper independently of said deck, and pulsating electro-magnetic means operable at a frequency not less than 3,000 cycles per minute and connected to both said hopper and said deck to cause their vibration always together inereby to insure a continuous feeding of material from said hopper to said deck and from said deck.

15. In a vibratory feeder, the combination with a vibratory conveyor deck, of a base, inclined spring means attaching-said deck and base whereby said deck will have a conveying'action when vibrated, a hopper positioned above said deck and having a lower opening positioned to feed material to said deck, frame means for support- 4 ing said hopperindependently ofsaid deck and attached to said base, and electro-magnetic vibratory means connected to said deck and said hopper for vibrating them.

16. In a vibratory feeder unit, the combinationi with a supporting frame comprising a metal base and upwardly extending arms, of a hopper mounted on said arms, a vibratory electro-magnetic feeder carried on said frame and positioned therebetween with its material receiving end positioned to receive material from said hopper, said entire feeder forming a complete unit, and shock absorbing feet on said metal base.

' 17. In a portable feeder unit, the combination with a portable frame, of a hopper nfounted on said frame, a feeder having a horizontal deck and mounted on said frame and positioned to be fed by said hopper, and electro-magnetic means constructed and arranged to vibrate both'said feeder and said hopper always together thereby to insure a continuous feed of material.

18. In a feeder unit, the combination with a base, of a substantially horizontal trough type Conveyor deck, inclined spring means supporting said deck from said base whereby said deck will impart a conveying action to anymaterial thereon, supporting bracket means extending upwardly from said base and on each side of said deck, a hopper carried by said bracket means above said deck and having a bottom portion extending into said deck trough andv feeding material to said feeder, and electro-magnetic means for vibrating said deck and said hopper always together to insure properfeeding of material from said hopper and deck.

19. A portable feeder unit comprising a portable frame formed of a metal base and upstanding side brackets, astrough shaped deck, inclined spring means for supporting said deck from said base with said deck substantially horizontal, a hopper carried by said side brackets and having a bottom extending into said trough with its bottom edge belowthe trough top, means for adjusting the rate of feed of the material from said hopper to said trough and electromagnetic means for vibrating said deck and said hopper always together, to insure proper feeding of material from said hopper and deck.

20. A vibratory feeder unit, comprising a metal base, a vibratory deck positioned above said base,

spring leaf means-connected between said deck and baseand forming an acute angle with the and said feeding means,

plane of said deck, continuous circuit non-rotary electro-magnetic vibratory means for vibrating said deck, a hopper positioned above said deck having a bottom positioned to feed material onto said deck, arms extending upwardly from said:

base and on each side of said deck and supporting .said'hopper' from said base, and shock absorbing feet, on said base to'prevent a transfer of vibrations in said base to any support on'which said feet rest.

21. In a feeder unit, the combination with a vibratory feeder having a substantially horizontal deck, spring means supporting said deck for vibratory movement having both a horizontal and vertical component of movement to effect a conveying action onmaterial carried by said deck,

a hopper positioned above said deck and positioned to feed material thereto, frame means for supporting said deck and hopper in predetermined relative positions, vibration absorbing feet for said frame means, and electro-magnetic means for imparting vibratory motion to said deck and hopper always together to insure a proper feeding of material.

22. In a feeder unit, the combination with a vibratory feeder having a substantially horizon- -tal deck, spring means supporting said deck for a vibratory conveyor adapted to convey material without the aid of gravity and having a deck, of ahopper for feeding material thereto, means supporting said hopper independently of and out of contact with said deck, and means comprising a single vibratory electro-magnetic motor for vibrating both saiddeck and said hopper, said means including elements constructed and arranged to impart vibration to said hopper independently of said deck.

24. In a vibratory feeder, the combination with a vibratory conveyor adapted to convey material without the aid of gravity and having a deck with a substantially horizontal conveying surface, of

, means for feeding material thereto, means sup porting said feeding means independently of and out of contact with said deck, and vibratory elec-- tric motor means for vibrating both said deck JAMES A FLINT. ARTHUR D. HOLT. 

